come in time to regard their boys as wholly intractable, and thus give them up, until sent to school, where they hope that, by paying for their education, all will be set right.
It should be remembered too by mothers, that many of their good qualities are not obvious to boys, at the same time that they are keenly alive in their perceptions of others. Among the former class may be reckoned those practical household virtues, of which, in after life, and when householders themselves, they form so high a value; but which, while children, they generally esteem no more than they do the accomplishments of nurses, cooks, and washerwomen. Thus, for a mother to be busy with her domestic affairs, goes no way with a boy in engaging his respect, not even to be busy with them to good purpose; because he is necessarily incapable of understanding how much good management, and general good sense, are required, to conduct them properly. The most industrious and laborious mothers are, consequently, in their capacity of housekeepers, but little esteemed for this part of their characters by boys; while on the other hand, a woman who acquits herself well in company, who never asks a silly question, nor gives a foolish answer, and whose general abilities and standing in society are such as to enable her to take part in intellectual conversation, and especially if she inspires the respectful attention of influential and clever men, so as to be addressed by them at table, her opinion asked on matters of moment, and, what is more, attended to when given; all this is quickly perceived, and keenly appreciated by an affectionate boy, who is but too happy to have an opportunity of feeling proud of his mother.
I need hardly say that, on the other hand, however tender and conciliating the conduct of a mother may be toward her children, if, on public occasions her sons discover that she has neither the knowledge nor the tact to acquit herself like a woman of sense, the star of her ascendency will most probably go down, never again to rise to them. It is woman alone, who, having once loved, can still love on, when she has ceased to admire, and when in reality it is painful and humiliating to love. Man is in a great measure incapable of doing this; and when a boy has fre-
